Soil resistant fibers

Abstract

Permanently soil resistant polymeric compositions that have fluorochemical dispersed throughout the polymer are prepared by melt extrusion of the fluorochemical with the desired polymer. Preferred polymers for extrusion with the fluorochemical are polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyamide.

We claim: 
     
       1. A polymeric shaped article that comprises a material having a polymeric inner core and a polymeric outer core wherein: (a) the polymeric inner core comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester; and   (b) the polymeric outer core comprises a material prepared by: (i) mixing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, and polyester with a fluorochemical of formula   R.sub.f --Q--R       wherein:   R f  is selected from CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  -- or CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  CH 2  CH 2  --, wherein n is 1 to 19;   Q is --C(O)O-- or --OC(O)--; and   R is selected from --(CH 2 ) m  CH 3 , wherein m is 13 to 22, and   (ii) melt extruding the mixture.     
     
     
       2. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1 wherein the polymer and fluorochemical in the material of the polymeric outer core are present in a ratio that ranges from 1:1 to 1,000:1. 
     
     
       3. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1 wherein the polymer and fluorochemical in the material of the polymeric outer core are present in a ratio that ranges from 20:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
       4. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1 that includes a compound selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an ultraviolet light absorbing agent, a flame retardant, a dye or coloring agent, an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, and an antialgal agent. 
     
     
       5. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1, wherein the polymeric composition is prepared by thin core extrusion. 
     
     
       6. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1, wherein n is 1 to 9. 
     
     
       7. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1, wherein the fluorochemical is selected from the group consisting of: C 4  F 9  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 6  F 13  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 8  F 17  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 10  F 21  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 12  F 25  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 14  F 29  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 16  F 33  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 18  F 37  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , and C 20  F 41  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 . 
     
     
       8. The polymeric shaped article of claim 1, wherein R is --C 17  H 35 . 
     
     
       9. A method for preparing a polymeric shaped article comprising a polymeric inner core and a polymeric outer core via thin core extrusion wherein: (a) the polymeric inner core comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester; and   (b) the polymeric outer core comprises a material prepared by: (i) mixing a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, and polyester with a fluorochemical of formula:   R.sub.f --Q--R       wherein:   R f  is selected from CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  -- or CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  CH 2  CH 2  --, wherein n is 1 to 19;   Q is --C(O)O-- or --OC(O)--; and   R is selected from --(CH 2 ) m  CH 3 , wherein m is 13 to 22, and   (ii) melt extruding the mixture.     
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein n is 1 to 9. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluorochemical is selected from the group consisting of: C 4  F 9  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 6  F 13  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 8  F 17  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 10  F 21  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 12  F 25  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 14  F 29  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 16  F 33  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , C 18  F 37  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 , and C 20  F 41  CH 2  CH 2  OC(O)C 17  H 35 . 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9, wherein R is --C 17  H 35 . 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, wherein the shaped article which is produced by thin core extrusion is selected from the group consisting of a polyproplyene inner core with a polyamide/fluorochemical outer core, a polyamide inner core with a polypropylene/fluorochemical outer core, a polyethylene inner core with a polypropylene/flurochemical outer core, a polyethylene inner core with a polyethylene/flurochemical outer core, a polyethylene inner core with a polyamide/flurochemical outer core, a polyamide inner core with a polyethylene/fluorochemical outer core, a polyester inner core with a polyamide/fluorochemical outer core, a polyamide inner core with a polyester/flurochemical outer core, a polyethylene inner core and a polyester/fluorochemical outer core, a polypropylene inner core and a polyester/flurochemical outer core, a polyester inner core and a polyethylene/flurochemical outer core, and a polyester inner core and a polypropylene/fluorochemical outer core. 
     
     
       14. A polymeric shaped article that comprises a material having a polymeric outer core and a polymeric inner core wherein: (a) the polymeric inner core is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester; and   (b) the polymeric outer core comprises a material prepared by: (i) mixing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, and polyester with a fluorochemical of formula:   R.sub.f --Q--R       wherein:   R f  is selected from CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  -- or CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  CH 2  CH 2  --, wherein n is 1 to 19;   Q is --C(O)O-- or --OC(O)--; and   R is selected from the group consisting of --C 14  H 29 , --C 15  H 31 , --C 16  H 33 , --C 17  H 35 , --C 18  H 37 , --C 19  H 39 , --C 20  H 41 , --C 21  H 43 , --C 22  H 45 , --C 23  H 44  ; and   (ii) melt extruding the mixture.     
     
     
       15. A polymeric shaped article that comprises a material having a polymeric inner core and a polymeric outer core wherein: (a) the polymeric outer core comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide and polyester; and   (b) the polymeric inner core comprises a material prepared by: (i) mixing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, and polyester with a fluorochemical of formula:   R.sub.f --Q--R       wherein:   R f  is selected from CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  -- or CF 3  (CF 2 ) n  CH 2  CH 2  --, wherein n is 1 to 19;   Q is --C(O)O-- or --OC(O)--; and   R is selected from --(CH 2 ) m  CH 3 , wherein m is 13 to 22, and   (ii) melt extruding the mixture.